Retailers across the nation will be forced to stop their sale of any alcoholic energy drinks due to the ban of alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine by the Food and Drug Administration.
The alcoholic energy drinks contain 12 percent of alcohol by volume in one can, which roughly the same amount as having a few cans of beer, and enough caffeine to equal five cups of coffee.
Stores have until Dec. 3 to clear their stock of alcoholic energy drinks before the ban takes effect.
Phusion Projects Inc., maker of Four Loko, stated that it would drop the caffeine and two other ingredients to “reformulate” the beverage.
According to The Boston Globe, problems that are alcohol-related have sent nearly 1,000 college-aged students to the emergency room each year, hence the drink is commonly called “blackout in a can.”
In Bakersfield, the alcoholic energy drinks, Joose and Four Loko, were taken out of most 7-Eleven and Fastrip stores on Nov. 23.
“Budweiser came and picked them all up,” said an employee, who didn’t want a name used, of a Bakersfield Fastrip store.
Four Lokos and Joose are inexpensive, and an easy way to get drunk faster than most alcoholic drinks.
“I’ve drank them before on certain occasions. They’re cheap alcoholic drinks, which is the only reason why I drink them,” said Steve Rivas, second-year student at Bakersfield College.
Rivas added, “I’m glad there’s a restriction on them because the caffeine does have a negative affect on a person’s body. When I drink them I feel drunk, but I want to keep drinking more of them. I don’t feel like that when I drink vodka.”
The four primary ingredients are alcohol, caffeine, taurine, and guarana, which give it the name Four Loko.
These energy drinks have come to symbolize dangers of such beverages because of their role in binge drinking among college students.
Jabari Brown, second-year student at BC, is against the ban and stated that he feels it is the consumer’s fault if they drink too many Four Lokos or Joose beverages.
“I at the most drink two, but rarely two because one is enough and I want to be aware of my surroundings.” Brown added, “I feel good when I drink a Four Loko. I feel at ease, and calm.”
Joey Hanson, BC first-year student, said that he really does not mind the alcoholic energy drinks being banned.
“I can still drink UV vodka and mix it with an energy drink. There’s always something to substitute a Four Loko or a Joose with,” stated Hanson.
Most BC students that were asked about Four Lokos and Joose stated that their taste was intolerable and could barely finish drinking one of them.
Hanson added, “They taste nasty, anyway.”